Lens-testing instrument



Nov. 4 1924..

A. E. MAYNARD LENS TESTING INSTRUMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 27 I921 INVENTOR ALBERT EMAYNARD m .NMQK 3 e M \N W WHWMKN Q m s N w/ a m QM. m w \n 3 m m mm Q J 0 e l H m NOV. 4 I924.

. A. E. MAYNARD LENS TESTING INSTRUMENT INVENTOR ALBERT E. MAYNARD H ATTORNEYS Nov. 4 1924.

A. E. MAYNARD LENS TESTING INSTRUMENT Filed June 27, 1921 3 Sheets5heet 3 INVENTOR ALBERT E. MAYNARD BY M dig Ab mm PM Y n ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1924 UNITED STATES ALBERT E. MAYNARD, OE SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN OPTICAL COFIPANY, GE SOUTIIIBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LENS-TESTING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed June 27,

T 0 all to ham 2'25 may; concern Be it known that I, ALBERT E. MAYNARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lens- Testing Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lens testing instruments and has particular reference to an improved construction of instrument adapted for use in determining i and marking the center and axis of spherical or cylindrical lenses.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of an instrument of this character in which an improved. construction of marking mechanism shall be employed which may be readily moved into or out of the line of vision and which shall be positively held in correct relation to the other parts of the instrument during the marking operation to insure correct marking of the lens.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved shift-able target and stationary controls for regulating the various movements of the target.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in, the several specific details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure I represents a side elevation of my complete instrument.

Figure II represents a plan view thereof.

Figure III represents a longitudinal sectional view as on the line III III of Figure II.

Figure IV represents a transverse sectional view as on the line IV-IV of Figure I.

Figure V represents a fragmentary front view of the lens supporting mechanism.

Figure VI represents a sectional view as on the line VI-VI of Figure I. I

Figure VII represents a view looking to- ISZI. Serial No. 480,813.

ward the left on the plane indicated by the line VII-VII in Figure I.

Figure VIII represents a horizontal sectional view taken as on the line VIIIVIII of Figure III, but with the points in marking position.

Figure IX represents an enlarged vertical sectional view through the marking points with the latter in operative position.

Figure X represents a fragmentary view similar to Figure IV illustrating a more rapid actuating mechanism for the target.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout tl e several views, the numeral 1 designates the base or main support of the instrument having rotatably mounted therein the tang 2 of the standard 3 provided with suitable fin-cations 4 between which are pivoted the supporting ears or lugs 5 of the main frame or carriage 6 of the instrument. This carriage has the central channel 7 horizontally divided as by the web 8 and is provided on its upper surface with the dove tail slide way 9 on which rides the target carriage 10, as will be most clearly understood by reference to Figure IV. This carriage 10 has rising therefrom the annulus 11 in which is rotatably mounted the target disc 12 having suitable designations for cent-er, axis, and the like, as indicated at 13 upon its face, these designations cooperating in part with the degree designations 14 carried by the edge of the annulus portion 1]. Any suitable mechanism may be employed to rotate the target to desired angle, two forms being shown respectively in Figures IV and X.

In Figure IV, I make use of a slow acting mechanism comprising the worm rack portion 15 on theedge of the target cooperating with the double worm member 16 and journaled in the carriage and rotated through action of the worm pinion 17 which is keyed on the shaft 18 journaled at the side of the frame 6 and provided on its forward end with the operating wheel 19. When I desire more rapid mechanism, however, this gearing may be varied and may even consist, as shown in Figure X, of the rack portion 20 and direct acting drive pinion 21 which is similarly keyed upon the shaft 19. Tll'e purpose of this is so that the shaft may remain stationary while the carriage is shifted back and forth, the operating handle always being in predetermined position to the remainder of the machine. To impart the back and forth shifting movement necessary to properly focus the target I preferably employ the endless chain or band member 22 working over the idler sprocket 23 at one end and over the sprocket 24 at the opposite end, the sprocket 24 being secured on the shaft 25 having the operating portion or wheel 26 at the side of the machine adjacent the wheel 19 so this wheel may be readily grasped to shift the endless chain and thus the carriage on the slide.

It will be understood that the purpose of the present instrument is to enable lenses to be marked on the optical axis in the case of cylindrical lenses, and with their center in the case of a spherical lens, so that the lens may be properly laid out for cutting, edging, and the like.

A further purpose of the instrument is to provide a device in which the finished lens may be satisfactorily checked up to determine whether it has been properly laid out and cut or not. In the accomplishment of this result it is desirable that a doubly useful form of lens support or holder be employed for the reason that when the lens is in its initial form the blank may be any one of a variety of shapes. I, therefore, find it preferable to provide the lens rest bracket 27 carrying the laterally slidable members 28 and 29 having arcuate upper portions 30 provided with long contact pins 31. These pins, in the case of a blank being tested, will serve as a rest against which the blank may be held by the hand, while when the finished lens is to be checked up by separation of the pins the lens may be placed therebetween bearing against the tips of the arcuate portions when the pins form clamps to automatically center and hold the lens in place during the subsequent testing. To facilitate the action of "this clamping effect I provide the two members 28 and 29 with the lingerpiece or grasping portion 32 which may be drawn together tending to separate the members 28 and 29, these members being each provided with a rack portion 33 meshing with the pinion 34: carried by the standard 27. The purpose of this pinion is to insure equal movement of the sliding clamp members in opposite directions so that as they come together they will automatically center the lens with respect to the standard, the two sides being at all times equally distant from the center line of the instrument. A spring 35 having one end secured to the standard 27 and the other to the slide 36 of the member-28 serves to draw the arms into inward or clamping position It is to be understood that while under ordinary conditions the movement of the target is sufficient to compensate for the power of lens being tested, being set at a distance for weaker powers and brought up; close for the stronger powers, in some cases the movement is insuiiicient or the space between the target and lens is limited for practical testing results. To eliminate this difficulty and facilitate best testing, I therefore preferably provide on the standard 27 the clip 37 having notched or slotted portions 38 adapted to receive and retain in position a trial set lens or the like which will serve to neutralize a portion of the power of the lens being tested so that the position of the axis and center maybe more readily determined. 7

In the use of my instrument the lens to be tested in the form of a blank is held against the pins 31 and the 'lensinspected through the peep aperture 39 in the eye piece 40, the parts being so arranged that the center polnt between the four pins '31-,

the peep aperture 39 and the center point 41 of the target will be in a single straight line then desirable to mark with a dot the center as found by shifting the same relative to the target until there is no displacement of the target as seen through the lens. Also in the case of a cylindrical lens it is desirable that additional markings be applied radiating outward from the center of the lens and indicating the axis of the cylinder if any present in the lens. To accomplish this result I make use of my improved marking mechanism as mostclearly shown in Figure IX of the drawings. This mar-king mechanism comprises a bracket 42 having pivoted thereto the sleeve 43 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 44 having 011 its lower end a mutilated bevel pinion 45 adapted to mesh with the mutilated rack 46 which is secured to the bracket. The effect of this construction is that as the sleeve is rocked the meshing of the pinion and rack will impart a half turn to'the shaft 44iso that when the sleeve is rocked in one position, as shown in Figure I for example, the marking points t? will dip down into the ink reservoir, or the like, 48, while when swung into the opposite direction they will beshifted halfway around so as to present themselves in operative relation to the lens 67 being tested. These marking points are carried by the head 49 secured on the upper end of the shaft, this head being provided with guide tubes 50 for the plunger rods 51 inwardly actuated as by the springs 52.bearing against the collars 53 so that the points will be normally projected forwardly from the tubes but capable of rearward yieldingraction as the device is brought against the lens so The lens being inthis position it is that they will rest lightly against the lens without breaking but bear with sufficient pressure to leave the marks of the inked points 47 thereon.

It will be understood that different thicknesses of lenses are to be marked with the present instrument and as the axis indicated is in a horizontal position it is necessary that some means be employed so that dots only will be formed on the lens and not indefinite smears as might be the case were the points brought into final operative position merely through the rocking action of the swinging of the sleeve 43 in its pivots. Therefore, in order that the marking movement of the pins may be entirely a straight line movement and not a swinging one, I mount on the rear portions of the pins the control plate 54 loosely mounted on the pins and bearing against the adjusting nuts 55 which control the inward movement of the pins as actuated by the spring 52. A rock arm 56 pivoted to the head 49 has at its lower end a cam portion 57 cooperating with the cam 58 secured on the shaft 59 which is rotatably mounted on the upper portion of the sleeve 43 and provided with an operating handle or wheel 60. In use the handle 60 is grasped and pressed upward rocking the sleeve and swinging the parts into raised position. Then as the sleeve reaches the final limit of swinging movement a slight twist or rotation is imparted to the handle 60 causing the cam 58 to rock the lever 56 against the pressure of the spring 68 when the lever will be shifted out of engagement with the plate 54 as is indicated in Figure IX, thus releasing the pins 51 and allowing them to move inward until the points 47 strike the lens 67. On reverse movement the spring 50 will, as the cam is released, swing the lever 56 to bear against the plate 54, reversely shifting the pins in a direct line movement prior to the reverse rocking of the device to put the points down into the ink reservoir, where they will be protected from dust and dirt and be in position for subsequent use.

I have just referred to the stop for limiting the swinging movement of the sleeve 43 and associated parts. As this mechanism is of considerable importance I have shown it in detail in connection with Figures VII and VIII of the drawings. Figure VIII shows the position occupied by the parts when in operative or marking position, and Figure VII the parts when in disengaged position. This mechanism comprises a block 61 secured on the lower end of the shaft 44 below the pinion 45 and rotatable with the shaft. This block is adapted to slide in the bottom guide way 63, depending on the position occupied by the parts, these guide ways having flaring mouths to interlock with and guide the block into direct close fitting engagement therewith. The block thus serves a two fold purpose. As the shaft is rotated from one position to another the continued rocking of the sleeve brings the block into engagement with the guides 62 or 63, as the case may be, serving to positively hold the shaft against any side twisting or rocking movement so it is absolutely positively positioned and locked during the latter part of its movement into either vertical or marking position or into horizontal or disengaged position, thus insuring exact correct fitting into the ink reservoir and exactitude of position when brought up to mark the lens and eliminate the possibility of wear due to warping or play in the several parts.

Inasmuch as the instrument is liable to be used on tables or desks of different heights or by persons of different heights and under different light conditions, I have found it desirable that the carriage be pivotally rather than rigidly secured to the supporting post or standard 3, while to control the pivotal movement and facilitate ready adjustment of angle of position of the mechanism, I rigidly secure to the lug 5 of the main frame the worm gear 64 meshing with the worm 65 journaled in the support 3 so that turning of the worm handle 66 will serve through its inter-engagement of parts to rock the worm and thus the frame 6 and adjust the angle of the instrument as an entirety with respect to its base.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and operation of my improved instrument should be readily apparent, and it will be understood that when a lens is to be marked the target is placed in the position shown in Figure IV, the lens held against the points 31 inspected through the sightapert-ure 39 until found in sin-h position that no displacement of the target occurs, being there held by the left hand while the right hand grasps the handle 60 pressing it upward with a slight twisting movement which serves to first rotate the marking points into raised position and then release the marking pins so that they will have a final direct line movement toward the lens. This is the customary use when the instrument is employed to mark the actual axis of a cylindrical or toric lens. If, however, it is desired to mark the horizontal axis of the lens as it is mounted in the frame the target may be set at an angle and the lens held against the points in proper relationship to the target, as for instance, at an angle of 110 degrees, or the like, in place of the normal 90 degree position and the marking device brought into use to indicate What will be the horizontal axis of the oval of the frame to which the lens must be cut and edged.

The lens having then been cut and edged it is placed between in place of against the points which will serve to automatically center and hold it when the target may be rotated until there is no displacement of it when viewed through the lens and the angle read and checked with the prescription to determine whether or not the lens has been correctly laid out and finished up.

I claim 1. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, a. target and an eye piece carried by the frame, a lens support intermediate the target and eye piece, means for marking a lens when on the support, said means including an oscillating sleeve, a marking head rotatable within the sleeve, means for rotating the marking head, resiliently actuated marking pins carried by the head, and means for normally holding all of the pins in inoperative position.

2. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, a target and an eye piece carried by th frame, alens sup port intermediate the target and eye piece, means for marking a lens when on the support, said means including an oscillating sleeve, a marking head rotatable within the sleeve, means for rotating the marking head, resiliently actuated marking pins carried by the head, means for normally holding the pins in inoperative position, said means including a rock lever, and means for rearwardly rocking the lever to move the pins with respect to the marking head.

3. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, a. target and an eye piece carried by the frame, a lens support intermediate the target and eye piece, means for marking a lens when on the support, said means including an oscillating sleeve, a marking head rotatable within the sleeve, means for rotating the marking head, resiliently actuated marking pins carried by the head, means for normally holding the pins in inoperative position, said means including a rock lever, means for rearwardly rocking the lever, and a. cam carried by the sleeve and engaging the lever for shifting the lever into inoperative position.

4-. In an instrument of the character described, a marking device including a supporting bracket, a sleeve oscillatabl'e within the bracket, a shaft rotatable within the sleeve and bearing a marking head at one end and a mutilated pinion at the opposite end, and a rack section for engagement with the pinion to shift the head into and out of operative position as the sleeve is rocked.

5. In an instrument of the character described, a marking device including a supporting bracket, a sleeve oscillatable within the bracket, a shaft rotatable within the sleeve and bearing a marking head at one end and a mutilated pinion at the opposite by the frame for shifting the endless'band V to move the tar-get support.

7. The combination with a frame having a slide way, of a target member movable 011 the slide way, said frame being centrally recessed, an endless'band contained within. the recess and engaging the target, and

means for shifting the band to move the target along the guide way.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting bracket, of a bearing member oscillatable within the bracket, a marking head carried by the bearing member and including a plurality of spring actuated marking points, a single means for holding the several marking points in inoperative position, and cam actuated means for disengaging the marking points to allow their actuating springs to shift them into operative position.

9. A device of the character described in cluding a supporting bracket, an oscillatable marking device carried by the bracket, a marking head supported by said oscillatable device, saidmarking head including a guide block and a pair of opposed guide ways for selective interlocking engagement with the guide block as the oscillatable member is shifted to positively lock the marking head against accidental twisting movement.

10. In mechanism. of the character .described, the combination with a frame .and a lens support, of an oscillatable-marking head, means for swinging the head toward and away from the lens support, a positive stop for limiting the swinging movement of the head, marking pins carried by the head, and means for imparting a supplementary movement to the marking pins with respect to the head after the oscillatory movement has been stopped.

11. A device of the character described, including a supporting slide way, a slide block mounted thereon, a target shaft car ried by the block, a target mounted thereon, a drive rod having a slot therein received through an opening formed in; the block, a gear slidably mounted .on the drive rod and rotatable therewith, and a gear carried by the target shaft and adapted to mesh with the first mentioned gear to operate the taret i b 12. A device of the character described, including a supporting slide way, a slide 1,513,2saa

block mount-ed thereon, a target shaft carried by the block, a target mounted thereon, a drive rod having a slot therein received through an opening formed in the block, a gear slidably mounted on the drive rod and rotatable therewith, a gear carried by the target shaft and adapted to mesh with the first mentioned gear, the said supporting slide having a channel formed therein, a chain supported within said channel and connected to the target slide block, and means to operate the chain to move the target along the supporting slide.

13. A device of the character described, including a supporting bracket, a block slidable on the bracket, a spring lens clamp having movable lens engaging members carried by the block, means to operate the lens engaging members, a pivoted sleeve carried by the block, a shaft arranged within the sleeve, a lens marking head on the shaft, pins carried thereby, a lever to oscillate the sleeve whereby to turn the pins and bring them into engagement with the lens to be marked.

1a. A device of the character described, including a supporting bracket, a block slidable on the bracket, a spring lens clamp having movable lens engaging members carried by the block, means to operate the lens engaging members, a pivoted sleeve carried by the block, a shaft arranged within the sleeve, a lens marking head on the shaft, pins carried thereby, a lever to oscillate the sleeve whereby to turn the pins and bring them into engagement with the lens to be marked, and a pivoted auxiliary lens holder arranged in proximity to the adjustable lens engaging members.

15. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, an eye piece carried by one end of the frame, an adjustable target carried at the opposite end of the frame, means to move the target longitudinally of the frame, means to rotate the target, a slidable block arranged between the target and eye piece, lens holding mechanism carried by the block means to operate the lens holding mechanism, and means for marking a lens when on the lens holding means, said marking means including an oscillating sleeve, a marking head rotatable within the sleeve, means for rotating the marking head, pins carried by the head, means for normally holding the pins in inoperative position, and means to swing the pins into contact with the lens to be tested.

16. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, an eye piece having a peep hole at one end thereof, a target carrying block slidably mounted on the frame near the opposite end thereof, a target. rotatably mounted thereon, means to move the target and target carrying piece longitudinally of the frame, and means to rotate the target upon its base, a second block slidably mounted between the target and eye piece on said frame, a lens holding member mounted on the block and including movable lens engaging arms, means to operate the lens engaging arms, an auxiliary lens support carried by the block, and a marking mechanism carried by the bloc said marking mechanism being adapted to be swung up into contact with a lens in said lens supporting member, said eye piece, lens engaging members and target being ar ranged in axial alignment.

17. An instrument of the character described, including a frame, an eye piece having a peep hole at one end thereof, a target carrying block slidably mounted on the frame near the opposite end thereof, a target rotatably mounted thereon, means to move the target and target carrying piece longitudinally of the frame, and means to rotate the target upon its base, a second block slidably mounted between the target and eye piece on said frame, a lens holding member mounted on the block and including movable lens engaging arms, means to operate the lens engaging arms, an auxiliary lens support carried by the block, said auxiliary lens support being adapted to be swung into and out of line of the peep hole and target, and a marking mechanism carried by the block and consisting of an oscillating sleeve, a marking head rotatable within the sleeve, means for rotating the marking head, resiliently actuated marking pins carried by the head, means for normally holding the pins in inoperative position, said means including a rock lever, and means for rearwardly rocking the lever to move the pins with respect to the marking head.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT E. MAYNARD.

\Vitnesses Susan CASAZZA, Anion G. HASKELL. 

